Investigator, Assoc Prof (M) Neurosurgery, Mass General Research Institute

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery Harvard Medical School

PhD Tokyo Medical and Dental University 1997

brain neoplasms; brain tumors; chemoresistance; genetic vectors; glioblastoma; gliomas; herpes simplex; malignant gliomas; neoplastic stem cells; oncolytic virotherapy; simplexvirus; viruses The ultimate goal of Dr. Wakimoto's research is to develop effective treatments for malignant brain cancer, glioblastoma. He has long been focusing on the use of oncolytic herpes simplex viruses as a tumor-killing agent as well as a gene delivery vehicle. His research interest includes exploration of the biology of "cancer stem cells" present in glioblastoma, which are speculated as the source of tumor recurrence.